IV 2360 



P45 

,834a 
lopy 1 



iHEERICAJV BOARD OF COttJHS^IOraRS 




F02EXGIT MISSIONS- 



ORGANIZATION OF THE BOARD, ITri RELATIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES 
TO THE CHURCHES, ice. — JANUARY, 133L 

Inquiries have frequently been made of late, especially in the southern and west- 
ern parts of the country, for the reasons which were alleged in favor of the union 
formed in 1826 between the American Board and the United Foreign Missionary 
Society,* and which induced the committee of conference of the General Assembly 
of the Presbyterian Church in the United States and of the Board, unanimously to 
give the opinion, in 1831, that "it is decidedly best that there should be but one so- 
ciety in this country for the management of foreign missions in behalf of those who 
agree in doctrine and ecclesiastical order, as do the Congregational, Presbyterian, 
and Reformed Dutch denominations, until the concern shall become too extensive 
and complicated, if that shall ever be, to be managed by one institution." The rea- 
sons in favor of the union were given in "An Address to the Christian Public, espe- 
cially to the ministers and members" of the three denominations above named, pub- 
lished in a pamphlet form in 1826; and the report of the Committee of Conference 
was published, soon after it was presented to the General Assembly of the Presby- 
terian Church, in the spring of 1832, in several religious newspapers, and in the Ap- 
pendix to the Report of the Board for that year.f But many within the pale of the 
three denominations never saw either of the documents, and cannot now con- 
veniently procure them; and others who saw and read them when published, cannot 
now recur to them. These circumstances have led to the expression of the desire 
by many persons, that the substance of the documents may be republished. To 
meet the wishes of these individuals, the following article was inserted in the Mis- 
sionary Herald, embracing the substance of the two documents, adapted, as to 
statements of numbers and some other particulars, to the present time, and contain- 
ing some additional suggestions of a kindred character, which seem requisite to a 
full exhibition of the subject 

In presenting the statements and reasonings which follow, it is to be distinctly 
understood that there is no design to interfere with any other foreign missionary 
societv, now existing, or hereafter to be organized. The great thing to be desired is, 
that all the members of the denominations referred to should be efficiently and sys- 
tematically engaged in the work of foreign missions. Through what organization 
and agency, it is cheerfully conceded to them as their right and privilege to deter- 
mine. The sole design of this article is to render accessible to the members and 
supporters of the Board, and others who may desire access to it, information, most 
of it heretofore published, and all simply stating facts, in regard to the Board and 
the work of foreign missions as prosecuted from this country. 

At a preliminary to statements to be made is desirable and of the highest im- 

in this article it may l>e remarked, that union poktance, in prosecuting the work 

or effort and exertion, to as great of foreign missions. Union is strength 

ax extent as shall be practicable, everywhere; in prosecuting religious cnier- 

•Ther* were formerly several foreign missionary societies nnd operation* in this countiy, which were, fit 
tb* request of then conductors, mor gcd in tlio Amoricao Hoard. The Synod of South Curolina nnd Georgia 
one* had a mission imun;' the Indians, which, at the request of the Synod, won tuken under Oil) care of thl 
Board in 1827. There were also formerly in the State of New Vork, the New York Missionary Society, und 
the Northern Minion iry Society, each having missions union; tho Indians: nnd the Synod of Pittsburg was 
alto, at thai time, • Turned in the same work. These societies and mi'sions were merged in the United 
Foreign Missionary rely located at New York And this iOi-irtywni.nl its request, merged in the 
Boanl, .ml iU i irioua minions, and a debt of about 915,000 assumed, in l*2ii, with the sanction of the Gen- 
oral \««embly of the Presbyterian Church ami of the General Synod of the Reformed Dutch Church. 

♦The Address ism • i.-m.-J by William Rued. Leonard Woods, Jetcmiah Evarts. Samuul Hubbard. Wnrren 
Far, Prudential Committee of the A. B. C. F. M.j and William McMurrny, Joseph McElioy. William W. 
Phillip*. Ebenesrr Mison. Zicbariab Lewis, Moses Allon, Sydney E. Morse, Esccutivo Committee of the 
0. F. M. B. The Report was signed by Thomas McAuley, James Richards, Joho .McDowell, Committee 
from the General Assembly, and Jeremiah Day, Lyman Ueeclier, R. It. Wisncr. Committee frmu the A. 
B. C. F. M. 




/ 



3 



Organization, Relations and 



Responsibilities of the Board. 



prises no less than others. "One shall chase a 
thousand, and two shall put ten thousand to 
flight." The aim should be, in arranging 
all plans for conducting Christian enter- 
prises, to get the friends of religion united in 
them to as great an extent as shall be consis- 
tent with their various circumstances and pe- 
culiarities and prejudices, and thus with calling 
forth their individual interest and exertions. 
And the importance of securing the greatest 
amount of united strength that shall thus be 
practicable increases just in proportion to the 
complicated character of the work to be done. 
Various benevolent operations may be as well 
conducted, some better, by different denomina- 
tions separately, though substantially agreed 
in sentiment; and some by local bodies and as- 
sociations within the same denomination. But 
the denominations united in supporting the 
American Bible Society, the American Tract 
Society, and the American Sunday School 
Union, would not think of taking their share of 
the noble works those institutions are prosecut- 
ing out of their hands, and performing it them- 
selves. Why? There would, doubtless, be 
advantages secured by such a course. Each 
denomination would be likely to be, in some 
respects, more interested in those great works, 
if they saw distinctly and separately what they 
were doing in each, and what blessed results 
they were thus producing. Yet the necessity 
for union in conducting those enterprises, all 
agree, requires that these lesser advantages 
should be foregene. And what creates that 
necessity for union? The complicated charac- 
ter of the work to be done; the stereotype 
plates and printing-presses to be provided and 
employed; the paper and other materials to be 
procured; the skill and experience required in 
the agents needed for the successful prosecution 
of those works: all of which, a regard to efficien- 
cy, to economy, to vigor and success, requires 
should be multiplied as little, and concentrated 
as much, as possible. Much more do these 
principles require that Christians unite, to as 
great an extent as shall be practicable, in con- 
ducting foreign missions; for in none of the 
benevolent operations of the day, are skill and 
experience more requisite in the agents em- 
ployed, and in none is the business so compli- 
cated and various. Besides exciting and cher- 
ishing the missionary spirit in the churches at 
home, and obtaining and designating mission- 
aries, and directing them in their work; many 
and various classes of assistants to the mission- 
aries are to be employed; types are to be pur- 
chased and cast; printing-presses to be pro- 
cured; various kinds of stores to be provided; 
and passages to be procured and shipments 
made to foreign ports. So extensive and com- 
plicated is the work, that when the churches 
have provided for the direct support of mis- 
sionaries in the field, they have not provided 
for half the expense of conducting foreign mis- 
sions. 

Another preliminary remark equally obvious 
and important is that, as far as they shall 
choose to do so, members of the Presby- 
terian, Congregational and Reform- 
ed Dutch denominations, may be hap- 



pily UNITED IN PROSECUTING THE WORK 
of foreign missions. Their professed doc- 
trines are the same, the Presbyterians and 
Congregationalists adopting as a standard the 
Westminster Shorter Catechism, and the Re- 
formed Dutch the Articles of the Synod of 
Dordt. And in discipline there is so little dif- 
ference between them, that ministers and can- 
didates for the ministry are continually pass- 
ing, without impediment or inconvenience, 
from one to the other. Surely members of 
these denominations may be united in the 
great and blessed work of instrumentally 
making Christians among the benighted and 
perishing nations. Let there be an agency 
constituted that shall not be local, but sub- 
stantially national; that shall fairly represent 
the three denominations; and shall give them 
sufficient security for its purity and fidelity; 
and shall take the missionaries of each, and 
let them retain their ecclesiastical relations, 
and organize churches of the converts they 
may be instrumental in making on the model 
the missionaries shall prefer; and let that 
agency be so located, and so circumstanced in 
other respects, as to have the requisite and the 
best facilities for conducting the enterprise; 
and the members of these denominations, to 
as great an extent as they shall choose, may 
be happily united in prosecuting the work 
through that agency. 

To show that the American Board of Com- 
missioners for Foreign Missions combines 
these requisites was a prominent object of the 
Address and Report already referred to. 
With this view they both stated that 

I. The American Board is not a 

LOCAL, BUT SUBSTANTIALLY A NATIONAL, 

institution. The evidence of this is, 

1. *The location of its members. Of the 
present corporate members (January 1834), 
who alone have the right of voting at the 
meetings of the Board, four reside in Maine, 
three in New Hampshire, two in Vermont, 
seventeen in Massachusetts (in which the 
Board is incorporated and has the seat of its 
operations), focr in Connecticut, twenty in 
New York, six in New Jersey, six in Pennsyl- 
vania, one in the. District of Columbia, three 
in Virginia, one in South Carolina, two in 
Georgia, one in Tennessee, one in Kentucky, 
and three in Ohio: Total 74. As the churches 
at the south and west come to co-operate more 
extensively with the Board, the numbers and 
proportion of its members in those parts of the 
country will, doubtless, be increased. 

Of the corresponding members, six reside in 
the middle and western states, and the remain- 
ing sixteen in foreign parts. 

Of the honorary members, (who have be- 
come such since the adoption, in 1821, of a 
resolution providing that contributors to the 
amount, if clergymen of $50, other persons of 
$100, should be honorary members of the 
Board,) there had, in 1831, been entered on 
the lists, 36 names of persons residing in for- 
eign parts, 429 of persons residing in New 
England, and 268 of persons residing in other 
states. — The corresponding and honorary 
members have the right of attending the meet- 



As 



( Organization, Relations and 

ings of the Board, and assisting in its delibera- 
tions, and acting on committees, but not of 
voting. 

2. T7ie annual meetings of the Board are 
held in different parts of the country, as the 
most convenient and efficient transaction of its 
business, and the promotion of the missionary 
spirit, from time to time, require. 

II. The Board sustains the same 

RELATIONS TO THE PRESBYTERIAN, CON- 
GREGATIONAL and Reformed Dutch 
CHURCHES; AND FAIRLY REPRESENTS EACH 
OF THOSE DENOMINATIONS. 

It sustains the same relations to the three de- 
nominations. 1. It is strictly a board of com- 
missioners, an agency, for managing the work 
of foreign missions from this country, for such 
friends of the Redeemer and of man as shall 
choose to employ it; arid those who do choose 
to employ it are members of each of the three 
denominations. 2. The Board was originally 
constituted by the General Association of 
Massachusetts, in 1310, - 'to devise ways and 
means, and adopt measures, for promoting the 
spread of the Gospel in heathen lands." The 
other general ecclesiastical bodies in New 
England soon concurred in the appointment. 
And in 1826, the General Assembly of the 
Presbyterian Church in the United States, and 
the General Synod of the Reformed Dutch 
Church, gave to the Board Iheir official sanc- 
tion and recommendation. 3. The Board re- 
ceives alike candidates for missionary service, 
possessing the requisite qualifications, as they 
offer themselves, from each of the three de- 
nominations. 4. The Board is under obliga- 
tion, by the terms of its union with the United 
Foreign Missionary Society, to supply the 
highest ecclesiastical bodies of the three de- 
nominations with copies of its Annual Report. 
5. The ecclesiastical bodies of the three de- 
nominations have, each, entire control over the 
Board as to its support from the churches they 
represent. Let the General Assembly of the 
Presbyterian Church, for example, for any just 
cause, recal the recommendation it lias given 
of the Board, and declare that it is no longer 
worthy of the confidence and support of the 
Presbyterian Church, and how completely 
would its influence be destroyed in that de- 
nomination? 6. The Board is composed of 
voting members from the three denominations, 
in the proportions now to be stated. 

77i* Board fairly represents each of the three 
denominations. The ascertained number of 
communicants in each of the denominations, 
according to their latest official returns, is of 



Responsibilities of the Board. 



3 



Presbyterians, 
Congregationalism. 
Reformed Dutch, 



23.3,580. 
I2G.71 4 
20,18(5 



The corporate members of the Board at 
this time (January 1831) arc connected with 
the several denominations in the following 
proportions \S iih the 



Presbyterian, 
Congregational, 
Reformed Dutch. - 



3, r > 

n 



There is also one member belonging to the 
Associate Reformed Church. 

If regard were had simply to the funds con- 
tributed, hitherto, by each denomination, the 
Congregational churches would be very inade- 
quately represented; the proportion, in this 
view, being nearly the same as among the 
honorary members, which was, in 1831, 429 
Congregationalists to 268 of other denomina- 
tions, and has not since materially varied. — 
The corresponding members in this country 
are all Presbyterians. 

III. The organization of the Board, 

AND ITS METHODS OF PROCEEDING, GIVE 
TO EACH OF THE DENOMINATIONS VERY 
HIGH SECURITY FOR THE PURITY, FIDEL- 
ITY AND EFFICIENCY OF THE BOARD, AND 
OF ITS MISSIONARIES, AS AGENTS OF THOSE 
DENOMINATIONS. 

Two methods of organization have been 
adopted in this country for conducting the be- 
nevolent operations in which the churches are 
engaged — voluntary associations, and boards 
constituted by ecclesiastical bodies. Advan- 
tages are claimed for each, and objections are 
alleged against each. It has so happened in 
Providence, that the organization of the Amer- 
ican Board is such, that it is not liable to the 
objections alleged against either of those 
plans, and that it secures the advantages 
claimed for each. 

It is objected against boards ecclesiastically 
constituted (whether justly or not it will not 
here be undertaken to determine), that the 
bodies which constitute them come together 
for other purposes than attending to the man- 
agement of the benevolent operations entrust- 
ed to those boards, and will not be likely, 
therefore, to give vigilant and efficient atten- 
tion to them, and will carry into the elections 
of their members and the supervision of their 
proceedings the party interests and feelings 
which too often prevail in those bodies. The 
American Board comes together for the sole 
purpose of attending to the business of foreign 
missions; and remote indeed is the probability, 
if not the possibility, of its members having 
any other motive in selecting their associates 
and successors, but to find men the best quali- 
fied and circumstanced to forward the great 
work of foreign missions. 

It is objected to voluntary associations 
(whether justly or not it will not here be un- 
dertaken to determine) that they might be 
easily perverted, by a few designing individ- 
uals at the places and times of their meetings, 
contributing a trifle to their funds, and thus 
obtaining for themselves all the powers of 
members, and combining together to elect offi- 
cers, and do what they should please with the 
institution. But no person becomes a voting 
member of the American Board by simply 
contributing to its funds. At first the Roard 
was annually appointed by the General Asso- 
ciations of Massachusetts and Connecticut — 
the two which had then concurred in the ar- 
rangement. It soon, however, became neces- 
sary to obtain an act of incorporation for the 
Board, which could not be obtained for it as 
then constituted. This led to a change in the 



4 Organization, Relations and Responsibilities of the Board. 



organization. The then members were author- 
ised to elect associates and successors, who 
should in the same manner perpetuate the 
Board. These are the corporate members, 
who alone have the right of voting. 

It is claimed (whether justly or not it will 
not be here attempted to determine) for volun- 
tary associations, that, being composed only 
of those who are interested in their object, as- 
sociated and assembling solely for its promo- 
tion, they may be expected to prosecute their 
work with an energy and skill not attainable 
in benevolent agencies formed on the other 
principle. The members of the American 
Board, as already stated, are selected chiefly 
on account of their adaptedness of character 
and circumstances to promote the cause of 
foreign missions, and this is the sole object of 
their attention in all their meetings. It may 
well be expected of them, therefore, to prose- 
cute their work with intelligence and energy. 
Indeed it may be questioned whether any or- 
ganization for benevolent institutions yet de- 
vised provid-js so well for securing these im- 
portant qualities. In the words of the "Ad- 
dress," "In large popular societies," — and the 
same is true of ecclesiastical bodies when they 
revise the proceedings of their various boards, 
— little else "can be done than to make public 
statements which must be received," for the 
most part, "without examination. Whereas 
at the annual meetings of the Board, all the 
doings of the Committee are brought under 
review. And this review is taken by men, 
who do not act in their private capacity, or as 
friends of the cause merely, but who are se- 
lected for this special service, who have regu- 
larly attended to the same duties for a series of 
years, who are familiar with the details of the 
business, and who wish for information, both 
on their own account, and that they may com- 
municate it to others." 

It is claimed (whether justly or not it will 
not here be attempted to determine) as a pe- 
culiar excellence of boards for benevolent pur- 
poses ecclesiastically constituted, that they 
give a security not furnished by associations 
formed on the opposite principle, for the purity 
of doctrine and character of their members 
and agents. The American Board furnishes as 
high security for the purity of doctrine and 
character of its members and agents, as can be 
claimed for any other benevolent organization. 

It gives very high security in relation to the 
character of its members, arising from the char- 
acter of its present members, associated as 
they are for the single object of conducting 
foreign missions, and from the control over it 
possessed by the ecclesiastical bodies of the 
three denominations. In the words of the 
"Address," "A considerable proportion of the 
members were Presidents of Colleges, and 
Professors in Theological Seminaries, at the 
time of their election; and more than one 
fourth part of the present members sustain one 
or the other of these relations. It need not be 
said that gentlemen in these important and re- 
sponsible stations, are extensively known and 
highly estacmed. They are also more likely 
than others, to be intimately acquainted with 



the character of the missionaries. Another 
class is composed of venerable men, both 
among the clergy and laity, who have arrived 
at an advanced period of life, have discharged 
numerous public duties, and are not even sus- 
pected of valuing the little distinction which is 
implied in a selection to these services, except 
as it may enable them to serve God in their 
declining days, and to bear a distinct testi- 
mony to the excellence of the missionary 
cause. A small number of middle age, resid- 
ing near each other, have been selected to 
manage the executive business of the Board; 
and others in the same period of life, distin- 
guished for their active exertions in behalf of 
charitable objects, and residing in different 
parts of the union, have been associated in this 
body." No association in the country, it may 
be safely said, has a larger share of the confi- 
dence of the Christian community, in every 
denomination. And just in proportion to their 
desert of that confidence is the security they 
give that they will elect for their associates 
and successors only men of a similar charac- 
ter. "If the members of the Board have any 
regard for the success of the cause in which 
they are engaged; if they feel any responsibil- 
ity for the stewardship which is placed in their 
hands; if they wish to sustain any reputation 
for integrity and consistency; they will aim to 
secure the best and most durable interest in 
the affections of the people of God, by doing 
what is right, and leaving the issue to his dis- 
posal." In fact, all their influence, and their 
very existence, depend upon their retaining 
the confidence of the Christian community. — 
And, as already shewn, the ecclesiastical 
bodies of the three denominations have, each, 
perfect control over the Board as to its sup- 
port from the churches they represent. 

The Board also gives very high security for 
the soundness of faith and character of the mis- 
sionaries it sends forth, and that a due propor- 
tion of the churches gathered under its auspices 
will be organized according to their several 
preferences. Just as does the Board of Mis- 
sions of the General Assembly, and of the 
General Synod of the Reformed Dutch Church, 
the American Board takes missionaries li- 
cenced and ordained by the several Presbyte- 
ries and Classes and Associations; and leaves 
them in their several ecclesiastical connections 
and responsibilities, until they are regularly 
dismissed to form others called for by the suc- 
cess given them in prosecuting their mission- 
ary work. Of the 93 ordained missionaries 
now (January 1334) laboring, or on their way 
to stations, among- the unevangelized nations, 
50 are Presbyterians, 41 Congregationalism, 
and 2 Reformed Dutch. — And in the forms 
of organization the missionaries give to their 
converts when gathered into churches, the 
missionaries are left by the Board entirely to 
their own judgment and preferences; no opin- 
ion having ever been given by the Board or its 
Prudential Committee, designed, directly or 
indirectly, to influence the missionaries on this 
subject. Of the 40 churches gathered under 
the auspices of the Board, into which have 
been received upwards of 2,300, and in which. 



Organization, Relations and Responsibilities of the Board. 



5 



at the last returns, were embodied 1,940 mem- 
bers, converts from Paganism and Mohamme- 
danism, 18 are Presbyterian, 5 Consociational, 
and 17 Congregational. A new mission, soon 
to be established, will be ecclesiastically or- 
ganized according to the discipline of the Re- 
formed Dutch Church. 

IV. The reasons, given in the Address and 
in the Report, "for but one institution I 

FOR FOREIGN MISSIONS FOR THE PrESBY- ! 

terian, Congregational and Reforji- 
ed Dutch denominations in the Uni- 
ted States," were the following: 

"i. It will save time and labor. This as- 
sertion is so obvious as to require little illus- 
tration. Two societies must have two execu- 
tive committees, two secretaries, at least as j 
many assistant secretaries, two treasurers, and 
two sets of agents. Much of this labor may 
be saved by merging two institutions into one. 
To every person acquainted with the real state 
of things, this is a very weighty consideration. 
The man, who attends an auxiliary missionary 
meeting once a year, at the expense of half a 
day's time, may regard it as a small matter to 
conduct missionary operations. But in point 
of fact, it is a very arduous and difficult mat- 
ter; and this should be well known and under- 
stood by the Christian public. It is not easy 
to find, in any city of the American union, a 
sufficient number of suitable men to form ac- 
tive and laborious committees for existing so- 
cieties; — men, who shall, amidst all their pri- 
vate and professional engagements, hold them- 
selves ready to attend weekly meetings, or to 
be called together on any emergency. What 
then shall be said respecting those functiona- 
ries whose whole time is demanded for their 
respective offices? How are men to be ob- 
tained, as a permanent thing, for these agen- 
cies in two institutions? Without saying any 
thing respecting the competency, or incompe- 
tency, of the present incumbents, it may be 
said boldly, that the American churches should 
see to it, that the best talents and attainments 
which the country can furnish, during all fu- 
ture years, have the charge of this momentous 
business. Let it be remembered that, as a 
people, we arc in great want of able men for 
the management of public spirited measures; 
not because our country is destitute of such 
men, but because the stations which require 
them arc very numerous, and arc multiplying 
every day. Is one of our colleges in want of 
a President? or one of our theological semina- 
ries in want of a Professor? A suitable man 
may perhaps be found, by searching the land 
from one cud to the other; but the difficulty lies 
in the fact, that, in all probability, he cannot 
be spared from the station which he now occu- 
pies; and if he could, he would be called to 
half a dozen other important stations, if there 
were any hope of obtaining him. This stale 
of things requires economy in the employment of 
competent men, to be regarded as a public and 
imperious duty. 

"There arc those, who, for want of knowl- 
edge on the subject, think that any man of 
good character for integrity, may l<o taken 
and coerced into these service*. If such a 



course of proceeding were proper and just, 
w ho has this pow er of coercion? We may in- 
deed find men in most of our cities each of 
whom will say, "I am willing to give mv Jive 
hundred dollars a year, or my thousand dollars 
a year, for religious charities;" and there are 
those each of whom might add, "I am willing 
to rise early, and sit up late, and eat the bread 
of carefulness, that I may have the ability of 
doing this;" and yet, each of these liberal men 
would feel compelled to add, "I cannot give 
my whole time, nor half my time, to any of 
these charitable objects, nor to all of them 
conjoined." 

"2. It will also save expense. This is ap- 
parent from what has already been said. But 
when it is considered, that if two institutions, 
having the same object in view, continue their 
separate operations, there will be a necessity 
of sending agents from both lo the same parts 
of the country; that, in many instances, two 
journies to the western wilderness will be re- 
quired, where one would otherwise answer 
every purpose; and that the contingent ex- 
penses of two separate establishments must be 
defrayed; it will appear, that this is a subject 
of no trifling consequence. 

"3. Tliere is no necessity for two institu- 
tions. The members of the three denomina- 
tions agree essentially in their views of Chris- 
tian doctrine. They employ the same sort of 
men for missionaries; men who were educated 
in the same schools, preach the same great 
truths in the same manner, are personally ac- 
quainted with each other, and are closely 
bound together by ties of friendship and of 
Christian affection. They rely upon the effi- 
cacy of a Savior's blood for the pardon of 
their own sins; and Ihey present lo perishing 
men of all classes the atonement of an almighty 
Redeemer, applied by the new-creating Spirit, 
as the only ground of hope, the only way to holi- 
ness and to God. There is as perfect a union on 
this subject, among those who believe in experi- 
mental religion, as perhaps ever existed among 
so many individuals on any subject of common 
interest; a union, which will enable them to 
act together with the greatest cheerfulness and 
energy. If we can suppose, that the mission- 
aries should hereafter cease to preach Jesus 
Christ and him crucified; and if they should 
preach any other gospel than that which Paul 
preached; — the support now derived from the 
Christian community would immediately fail. 

"4. It will remove the danger of collision. 
If there be two institutions, there will be con- 
stant danger of interference; — a danger, w hich 
no human wisdom, prudence, or piety, can en- 
tirely obviate. Agents will proceed from each 
society to the same places, they will often ar- 
rive at the same time, or one immediately after 
another; the plans and measures of one will 
seem to thwart the designs and calculations of 
the other; and each w ill meet with many a se- 
vere repulse, both from ministers and people, 
as a consequence of the dread of this appre- 
hended Collision, or the dislike of repeated ap- 
plications for the same object. It is to be 
presumed, that the conductors of both socie- 
ties will always be on harmonious terms; but 



6 Organization, Relations and 



Responsibilities of the Board. 



can it be supposed,that all the agents to be 
hereafter employed will have such a share of 
the meekness of wisdom, as to give no offence, 
in these difficult and constantly varying cir- 
cumstances? And if the agents should be 
perfect, will not partizans arise for one society, 
who will plead with zeal for a particular mis- 
sion, or a particular class of operations, to the 
disparagement of missions under the care of 
the other society? Will not extravagant en- 
comiums of one provoke disadvantageous 
comparisons? And will not the efforts of both 
be thus weakened, and many individuals pre- 
vented from giving an efficient and systematic 
patronage to either? If the missionary exer- 
tions of the country should be increased, and 
the need of greater and still greater resources 
be felt, the evils here adverted to will be 
greatly augmented; and agents, instead of 
pleading the cause of a suffering world with 
boldness, will be timid and hesitating, lest they 
should seem to encroach upon the claims of a 
sister institution." 

5. A single institution will greatly promote 
Christian affection. 

"Union of effort in behalf of the heathen 
world, tends powerfully to increase brotherly 
Jove among those who are thus united. It 
brings them to be acquainted with the same 
individuals, acting as their agents and almo- 
ners. It fixes their minds on the same objects, 
and those of the highest interest. It multiplies 
the subjects of common concern. So far as 
benevolent feelings are called into action, the 
amiableness of the Christian character is ap- 
parent; and those who behold in each other 
the lineaments of their heavenly origin, will be 
more closely drawn together, the more they 
are called lo act in the same connection, and 
for the accomplishment of the same purposes. 
This tendency of united counsels and efforts 
assumes a vast importance, when the rapidly 
increasing population of our country, and our 
extensive territory, and our capability of exert- 
ing a moral influence, are considered. 

"6. The great saving by one institution of 
toil, expense, and vigor of life, in the necessary 
research and explorations which are indispen- 
sable to an intelligent and successful pros- 
ecution of the work of foreign missions. 
This has indeed been already adverted to, 
where reference was made to "journies 
to the western wilderness." How much the 
force of this consideration is augmented, 
when missions are to be conducted in the four 
quarters of the globe, is evinced by the sketch, 
given in the Report of the American Board for 
1831, of the countries traversed, and the perils 
encountered, and the lives lost, in the explora- 
tions already made under the direction of that 
institution. In no other way could the indis- 
pensable knowledge thus acquired have been 
obtained. And who could think it expedient 
to double this toil, and expense, and risk of 
valuable lives? 

"7. In conducting foreign missions, as in 
managing every other important concern, expe- 
rience is the safest guide, and often leads to es- 
sential modifications in the methods of proceed- 
ing, greatly augmenting the efficiency and suc- 



cess of the enterprise. The time and labor and 
expense requisite for acquiring this experience 
would be greatly increased, if not doubled, 
by having two institutions, while the result 
would be to each far less efficacious. 

"3. To all which is to be added, that con- 
stitution of human nature, by which interest 
and motive and effort and reward correspond 
with the magnitude and sublimity of the object 
presented; creating a moral momentum, which 
declines with every division, and augments 
steadily up to the highest point of practicable 
combination." 

V. In reference to the seat of the 
operations of the board, it was remarked 
in the Address, "It may be well to say, for 
the information of many into whose hands these 
pages may fall, that it happened providential- 
ly, and without any peculiar atlaehment to 
place, or regard to personal considerations, 
that the business of the Board has been done 
in Boston. It should be added, however, that 
this providential disposition of the matter ought 
not to be disregarded, for the following rea- 
sons. Though New York is the great empo- 
rium of our country, yet, as every merchant 
knows, there is six times, if not ten times, a-s 
much direct intercourse between Boston and 
India, or the Sandwich Islands, as between 
New York and the same places. There is 
also a regular commerce between Boston and 
the Levant. So that the missionary stations 
beyond sea are much more easily accessible 
from Boston, than from any other place in the 
United States. The same would be true with 
respect to any missions, on the west and north- 
west coast of America, the western coast of 
Africa,* the shores of the Persian gulf, the 
Maylayan Archipelago, or any part of Poly- 
nesia. The foreign trade of New York is 
principally with FAirope, South America, and 
Mexico; whereas the foreign trade of Boston, 
though less in amount, is carried on with every 
part of the world; and of course furnishes the 
means of conveying missionaries to almost 
every heathen country, and corresponding 
with them and supplying their necessities, after 
their respective stations are formed." Indeed 
such is the commerce of this country that, 
whether we have many or few foreign mission- 
ary societies or boards, the business of sending 
missionaries and their supplies to stations be- 
yond sea, must, at present at least, be nearly- 
all transacted within the strip of coast from 
Philadelphia to Salem, Mass. And as yet, 
Boston is decidedly the most favorable loca- 
tion for this purpose. Of this statement we 
have strong confirmation in the following facts. 
Most of the letters received at the Missionary 
Rooms from missionaries of the Board beyond 
sea, are brought into the ports of Massachu- 
setts. And the Baptist General Convention, 
which holds its meetings alternately in New 
York and Philadelphia, has the seat of its for- 



* Since the publication of the "Address," the in- 
creased intercourse witli Liberia has caused the pas- 
sage of vessels to Western Africa to be chiefly from 
the middle parts of the United States. Missionaries 
to southern and southeastern Africa will generally be 
sent by vessels bound to the East Indies. 



Organization, Relations and 



Responsibilities of tht Beard. 7 



eign missionary operations at Boston: and 
the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society 
of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the 
United States, whose executive committee is 
located at Philadelphia, conducts its foreign 
missions through a committee at Boston. 
VI. Can the American Board, then*, 

BRING THE SUBJECT OF MISSIONS HOME 
TO THE CHURCHES IN THE SEVERAL DE- 
NOMINATIONS, SO AS EFFECTUALLY TO EX- 
CITE AND SUSTAIN THEIR INTEREST AND 

co-operation in THE work? This im- 
portant question will be satisfactorily answer- 
ed by briefly describing its method of conduct- 
ing this part of its operations. It proposes to 
divide the country into General Agencies, em- 
ploying a competent agent, all his time, in 
each, promoting the missionary spirit, finding 
and ascertaining the qualifications of missiona- 
ries, and obtaining funds. Such agencies are 
already established in New England, in the 
State of New York, and in the Western States; 
and will be established as soon as practicable 
in New Jersey and East Pennsylvania and 
Delaware and Maryland, in Virginia and 
North Carolina, and in the more southern 
States. One of the Secretaries also frequently 
visits the Theological Seminaries and Colleges, 
and assists, as he is able, in making the an- 
nual application in the principal places for 
funds. The General Agents are assisted in 
their work by local and temporary agents, and 
by various organizations. A chief object of 
these organizations is to secure the regular 
bringing of the subject of foreign missions, 
once a year, before each congregation. In 
forming these organizations respect is always 
had to the circumstances, and ecclesiastical 
habits, and preferences, of the people. In 
New England and in some other sections of 
the country, male and female foreign mission- 
ary associations are formed in each congrega- 
tion, having collectors, who apply once a year 
to all the members of the congregation for their 
contributions, after a sermon has been preach- 
ed on the subject; and these associations arc 
combined in auxiliary societies within conve- 
nient limits, which have an annual meeting, 
attended by a delegation from the Board. 
The boundaries of these auxiliaries arc, where 
it is convenient, coincident with those of Pres- 
byteries, Classes, Associations, Consociations, 
and Conferences of Churches. Or if preferred, 
these bodies may themselves act as auxilia- 
ries, or may attend to the business within (heir 
limits in their ecclesiastical capacity. In other 
parts of the country where an organization for 
this purpose is not practicable or expedient, it 
is not attempted, and the business is attended 
to from year to year, as far as attended to, by 
the pastors and agents. In October last a 
'Foreign Missionary Society of the Western 
Reserve,' (Ohio) was formed, composed of 
the Synod of the Western Reserve and such 
individuals as shall annually make a donation 
to the treasury, having the usual officers, and 
lualainiiig the usual relations to the Hoard of 
auxiliary societies. In the same month was 
formed at Cincinnati, Ohio, 'The Foreign 
Missionary Society of the Valley of the Mis- 



sissippi,' auxiliary to the American Board, 
composed of members of the Board corporate 
and honorary, its officers and agents, and of 
contributors to its funds residing in the Valley 
of the Mississippi; having its Secretary, and 
Treasurer, and Executive Committee, who are 
to attend to the business of exciting and cher- 
ishing the missionary spirit, and procuring mis- 
sionaries, and obtaining funds, in the Valley - , 
the missionaries to be commissioned and 
directed in their work, and the funds to be 
applied, by the Prudential Committee of the 
American Board. The General Synod of the 
Reformed Dutch Church has its Board of For- 
eign Missions, with the usual officers, to attend 
to the business in their denomination, their funds 
to be paid over to, and their missionaries to be 
directed by, the Prudential Committee of the 
American Board. And recently, the Synods 
of Virginia and of North Carolina have united 
in constituting a Board of Foreign Missions 
for those States, connected in the same man- 
ner with the American Board: and a sim lar 
arrangement has been made by the Synod of 
South Carolina and Georgia. In fact any 
local organization may be adopted that the 
circumstances or preferences of the friends of 
missions in any part of the country may re- 
quire, leaving to the Prudential Committee of 
the American Board the designation of the 
missionaries and the direction of their opera- 
tions. Thus the Board is found to be, as it 
has been already stated that it is, strictly a 
board of Commissioners, an agency, for man- 
aging the work of foreign missions from this 
country, for such frienc's of the Redeemer and 
of man as choose to employ it; and may be so 
employed, if they shall choose, by all the 
members of the three denominations. And thus 
the facilities possessed by the Board and its 
executive officers, and their knowledge and 
experience in the work, may be made use of 
by Christians of the three denominations in all 
parts of the country; and the animating and 
sanctifying subject of foreign missions may be 
brought home to all in the most agreeable a" I 
efficient manner; the exciting and encouragi.. 
influence — not merely of the good which one 
denomination, or an organization embracing 
a part of one denomination, may have been 
instrumental in effecting, may be brought to 
bear upon its members — but of all the good 
which the three denominations shall be made 
instrumental in accomplishing, maybe brought 
to bear directly and efficiently upon each 
member of each denomination; so that as any 
individual of cither denomination shall hear 
or "read of the conversion of American 
Indians, and Sandwich Islanders, and Hin- 
doos, and Chinese, or trace a missionary 
tract as it winds its way to the Caspian, or 
passes the Ghauts from the Coromandel coast, 
or enters a port of the Celestial Empire, or 
casts a gleam of light upon the dark mind of 
the Polynesian savage, he may reflect that 
in alt these works of mercy his humble offer- 
ings had a share." Each will have the great- 
est encouragement in the work, and will most 
efficiently contribute to its economical and 
vigorous prosecution. 




1 



ttXEXKBERS OF THE BOARD .- 



CORPORATE MEMBERS. 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



021 623 433 



MAINE. 

Gen. Henry Sewall, Augusta. 
William Allen, D. D. Pres. of Bovvdoin Coll. 
Bennet Tyler, D. D. Portland. 
Rev. Enoch Pond, Prof, in Theological Semi- 
nary at Bangor. 

NEW HAMPSHIRE. 
John Hubbard Church, D. D. Pelham. 
Hon. George Sullivan, Exeter. 
Nathan Lord, D. D. Pres. of Uarmouth Coll. 

VERMONT. 
Hon. Charles Marsh, Woodstock. 
Joshua Bates, 1). D. Pres. of Middlebury Coll. 

MASSACHUSETTS. 
William Bartlett, Esq. Newburyport. 
Edward D. Griffin, D. D. Pres. ot Williams 
College. 

Hon. William Reed, Marblehead. 

Leonard Woods, D. D. Prof, in the Theolog- 
ical Seminary at Andover. 

John Codman, D D. Dorchester. 

Samuel Hubbard, LL. D. Boston. 

Heman Humphrey, D. D. Pres. of Amherst 
College. 

John Tappan, Esq. Boston. 

Hon. Lewis Strong, Northampton. 

Warren Fay, D 1). Charlestown. 

Justin Edwards, D. 1). Andover. 

His Honor Samuel T. Armstrong, 

Benjamin B. Wisner, D. D. 

Henry Hill, Esq. 

Rev. Ruius Anderson, 

Rev. David Greene, and 

Mr. Charles Stoddard. Boston. 

CONNECTICUT. 

John Cotton Smith. LL. D. Sharon. 

Calvin Chapin, D. D. Wethersfield. 

Jeremiah Day, D. D. LL. D. Pres. of Yale 
College. 

Noah Porter, D. D. Farmington. 

NEW YORK. 
Stephen Van Rensselaer, LL. D. Albany. 
David Porter. 1) D. Catskill. 
Nathaniel W. Howell. LL.D. Canandaigua. 
Jonas Platt, LL. D. Pittsburgh. 
Jamh-.s Richards, D. I). Prof, in the Theolog- 
ical Seminary at Auburn. 
Alexander Proudfit, D. D. Salem. 
Eliphalet Nott, D. D. Pres. of Union Coll. 
Henry Davis, D. D. Clinton. 
Zechariah Lewis, Esq. Brooklyn. 



Orrin Day, Esq. Catskill. 

Gardiner Spring, D. D. 

William McMurray, D. D. 

Thomas McAuley, D. D. LL. D. 

John NiTCHiE,Esq. 

Eleazar Lord, Esq. 

Thomas DeWitt, D. D. and 

S. V. S. Wilder, Esq. 

Rev. Nathan S. S. Beman, Troy. 

Cornelius C. Cuyler, D. D. Poughkeepsie. 

John Ludlow, D. D. Albany. 

NEW JERSEY. 

Philip Milledoler, D.'D. Prof, in the The- 
ological Seminary at New Brunswick. 

SahJuel Miller, D. D. and 

Archibald Alexander, D. D. Professors in 
the Theological Seminary at Princeton. 

James Carnahan,D. D. Pres. of Nassau Hall. 

Hon. Peter D. Vroom. 

Theodore Frelinciiuysen, LL. D. Newark. 
PENNSYLVANIA. 

Ashbel Green, D. D. 

Robert Ralston, Esq. 

Thomas Br*adkord, Jr. Esq. and 

John McDowell, D D. Philadelphia. 

William Neill, D. D. Germantown. 

Dr. Samuel Agnew, Harrisburg. 

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. 

Joseph Nourse, Esq. 

VIRGINIA. 

George A. Baxter, D. D. Prof, in the Union 
Theological Seminary. 

Gen. John H. Cocke, Fluvanna County. 

William Maxwell, Esq. Norfolk. 

SOUTH CAROLINA. 

Benjamin M. Palmer, D. D. Charleston. 
GEORGIA. 

Dr. John Cumming. Savannah. 

Moses Waddell, D. D. Athens. 

TENNESSEE. 

Charles Coffin, D D. Pres. of the College 
in Greenville. 

KENTUCKY. 
Gideon Blackburn, D. D. 

OHIO. 

Robert G. Wilson, D. D. Pres. of the Col- 
lege at Athens. 

Lyman Beecher, D. D. Pres. of the Lane 
Seminary, Cincinnati. 

James Hoge, D. D. Columbus. 



CORRESPONDING MEMBERS. 



NEW YORK. 
John Bolton, Esq. City of New York. 
OHIO. 

Rev. James Culbertson, Zanesville. 

KENTUCKY. 
James Blytiie, D D.Lexington. 

ENGLAND. 
Sir Alexander Johnstone. 
Sir Richard Ottley. 
Rev. Josiah Pratt, B. D. London. 
William Taylor Money, Esq. 
Rev. William Jowett. 

SCOTLAND. 
John Campbell, D. D. 
Hon. Kincaid Makf.nzie. 
Ralph Wardlaw, D. D. 

FRANCE. 
Frederick Leo, Esq. Paris. 



IN THE UNITED STATES. 

TENNESSEE. 
Dr. Joseph C. Strong, Knoxville. 

ALABAMA. 
Col. John McKee. 

VIRGINIA. 
William Hill, D. D. Winchester. 



FOREIGN PARTS. 

CEYLON. 
Rev. Archdeacon Glen IE. 
James N. Mooyart, Esq. 

BENGAL. 
William Carey, D. D. Serampore. 

CHINA. 

Robert Morrison, D. D. Canton. 

BOMBAY. 
James Farish, Esq. 
Edward H. TowNSP.ND,Esq. 
Doct. Smyttan. 



